Medication dispensing and timing system utilizing patient communicator with internal clock

Abstract

A medication dispensing and timing system includes a central monitoring facility and a plurality of patient communicators, each containing sufficient memory for storing the medication schedule of a respective patient, and a clock circuit providing time and date information utilized in conjunction with the stored schedule to provide visual and aural prompts to the patient as medication is to be taken. Upon receiving a prompt the patient actuates a switch which causes transmitter means within the communicator to send a reply signal back to a computer at the monitoring facility, which includes a memory containing the same medication schedule and a clock circuit providing date and time information, whereby a follow-up procedure is initiated, including a follow-up message sent to the communicator, in the event a reply message is not received within a predetermined time following a scheduled medication event. The communicator may be equipped to electrically communicate with medication dispensing apparatus whereby the apparatus dispenses medication in response to a received prompting message. The dispensing apparatus may include a modem for communicating with the central monitoring computer to confirm actual dispensing when using, for example, a one-way paging system, and to provide a control path whereby the dispensing apparatus can be controlled from the monitoring computer in the event of a radio link failure.

We claim: 
     
       1. A medication dispensing system comprising: monitoring means at a central location including memory means containing a predetermined medication dispensing schedule associated with a particular patient;   a communicator at a location remote from said monitoring means and in proximity to said patient, said communicator having memory means containing said medication dispensing schedule, day and time indicative clock means, and means responsive to said memory means and said clock means for prompting said patient to take medication in accordance with the schedule;   said communicator including transmitter means responsive to an external control effect for generating a reply signal acknowledging receipt of said prompt;   a wireless communication network for conveying said reply signal to said central monitoring means; and   said central monitoring means including alarm generating means responsive to said reply signal for initiating a predetermined follow-up procedure in the absence of said reply signal following the lapse of a predetermined time period following said prompt signal.   
     
     
       2. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said external control effect comprises a patient-actuable switch. 
     
     
       3. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said patient prompting means comprise an alpha-numeric display viewable by the patient. 
     
     
       4. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said patient prompting means comprise a patient-audible alarm. 
     
     
       5. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said system includes a medication dispenser having communication means for communicating with said receiver and producing a confirmation signal indicative of the dispensing of a dose of medication, and said control effect is generated by said dispensing apparatus following receipt of said confirmation signal by said medication dispenser. 
     
     
       6. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 5 wherein said dispenser includes memory means for receiving dispensing instructions from said receiver. 
     
     
       7. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 5 wherein said information includes a unique address associated with said dispenser, and said dispenser is responsive only to signals conveying said unique address. 
     
     
       8. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 5 wherein said dispenser includes communication means for communicating with said central monitoring means. 
     
     
       9. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 5 wherein said dispenser includes means of producing a confirmation signal indicative of medication having been dispensed from said dispenser. 
     
     
       10. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 5 wherein said dispenser includes memory means for keeping a detailed record of medication dispensed. 
     
     
       11. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said central monitoring center includes a monitoring computer, and said system includes at least one pharmacist terminal located remote from said monitoring center for conveying a patient medication schedule to the monitoring office. 
     
     
       12. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 5 wherein said central monitoring center includes a monitoring computer, and said system includes at least one pharmacist terminal located remote from said monitoring center for conveying a patient medication schedule to the monitoring office. 
     
     
       13. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 12 wherein said pharmacist terminal further conveys a unique address associated with said dispenser to said central monitoring office. 
     
     
       14. A medication dispensing system comprising: monitoring means at a central location including memory means containing a predetermined medication dispensing schedule associated with a particular patient;   a communicator at a location remote from said monitoring means and in proximity to said patient, said communicator having memory means containing said medication dispensing schedule, day and time indicative clock means, and means responsive to said memory means and said clock means for prompting said patient to take medication in accordance with the schedule;   said communicator including transmitter means responsive to an external control effect for generating a reply signal acknowledging receipt of said prompt;   a wireless communication network for conveying said reply signal to said central monitoring means;   said central monitoring means including alarm generating means responsive to said reply signal for initiating a predetermined follow-up procedure in the absence of said reply signal following the lapse of a predetermined time period following said prompt signal;   said communicator including uniquely-addressed receiver means for receiving a message from said monitoring means and for providing a prompt to said patient in response thereto;   said follow-up procedure including a prompt message addressed to said receiver; and   an additional wireless network for conveying prompt messages from said central monitoring means to said uniquely addressed receiver.   
     
     
       15. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 14 wherein said wireless communication system is a paging system, and said uniquely addressed receiver is a two-way paging receiver. 
     
     
       16. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 14 wherein said external control effect comprises a patient-actuable switch. 
     
     
       17. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 14 wherein said patient prompting means comprise an alpha-numeric display viewable by the patient. 
     
     
       18. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 14 wherein said patient prompting means comprise a patient-audible alarm. 
     
     
       19. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 14 wherein said system includes a medication dispenser having communication means for communicating with said receiver and producing a confirmation signal indicative of the dispensing of a dose of medication, and said control effect is generated by said dispensing apparatus following receipt of said confirmation signal by said medication dispenser. 
     
     
       20. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 19 wherein said dispenser includes memory means for receiving dispensing instructions from said receiver. 
     
     
       21. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 19 wherein said information includes a unique address associated with said dispenser, and said dispenser is responsive only to signals conveying said unique address. 
     
     
       22. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 14 wherein said central monitoring center includes a monitoring computer, and said system includes at least one pharmacist terminal located remote from said monitoring center for conveying a patient medication schedule to the monitoring office. 
     
     
       23. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 19 wherein said central monitoring center includes a monitoring computer, and said system includes at least one pharmacist terminal located remote from said monitoring center for conveying a patient medication schedule to the monitoring office. 
     
     
       24. A medication dispensing system as defined in claim 23 wherein said pharmacist terminal further conveys a unique address associated with said dispenser to said central monitoring office.